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SAN JOSE -- As bold coaching decisions go, Murray State Coach Billy Kennedy's strategy with 4.2 seconds remaining and his team trailing by one ranks as one of the more gutsy. Kennedy knew that the way Vanderbilt plays defense on out-of-bounds situations left the Racers with limited options to score their final basket. They couldn't run one of their usual plays.

During a timeout, Kennedy devised a play that his team had never run -- not in a game, not in practice -- and the Murray State players proved to be quick learners.

The Racers (31-4) advance to a Saturday game against fifth-seeded Butler, a 77-59 winner over Texas-El Paso.

"I work on it every day in practice," Thomas said of the game-winning shot. "I got good midrange. I saw that one going in."

Added Miles, whose only assist in the game came on the pass to Thomas: "As soon as I passed it I knew it was going in. I said, 'Knock it down, 'Nero,' and he knocked it down."

Murray State hadn't won an NCAA tournament game since 1988 -- "When I was born, 22 years ago," Racers guard B.J. Jenkins said -- and is 2-13 all-time in the tournament.

John Jenkins had 13 points for Vanderbilt (24-9), which was upset as a No. 4 seed for the second time. Two years ago, the Commodores were seeded fourth and were stunned by Siena in an 83-62 rout.

This game was much closer. The biggest lead of the game came early in the second half when Miles sank a pair of free throws to put Murray State ahead, 44-36. Vanderbilt quickly answered with a 6-0 run to pull within two.

The Commodores took their first lead of the second half on John Jenkins's three-pointer with less than five minutes remaining. Their lead didn't last long, though. After Murray State's Jeffery McClain blocked Brad Tinsley's shot, B.J. Jenkins sank a three-pointer to put the Racers in front, 62-60.

Murray State had the lead and the ball with less than a minute remaining when Miles drove along the baseline and threw a pass that ended up in Andre Walker's hands. The turnover seemed to doom the Racers when Jermaine Beal sank a pair of free throws to put Vanderbilt up by one with 21.1 seconds remaining.

B.J. Jenkins missed his three-point attempt, but the possession remained with Murray State. Kennedy called timeout to set up the play.

"The kid just made a good shot," Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings said. "I wish we could have been there to contest it a little bit better."